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In this article I will tell you about the best coffee shops in Hong Kong. When people think of Hong Kong they often think of Horse Racing, money, expensive cars and a fast and luxurious lifestyle. Underneath the surface of all that is an old but highly sophisticated coffee scene that offers the best coffee, great Baristas and coffee shops that come in all shapes and sizes. Read on and I will show you a glimpse of what Hong Kong has to offer. This list is far from complete, so if your favourite spot is not on the list, please add it in the comments. The list is written in alphabetical order, except for the first spot: my favourite hotspot.
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Barista Jam
Barista Jam has a special place in my heart and the reason is simple: not only did the coffee culture of Hong Kong pretty much started here, the level of brewing is super high. Owner William So is almost always present and an approachable man who loves to chat about coffee. The two main Baristas (Ricky and Alex) are so good that they will brew you a perfect cup of coffee with every bean variety that they have on offer. Are you in doubt as to what coffee you would like to try? Just ask them, or let them choose a variety for you instead. Are you in need of coffee equipment? take the stairs to the first floor and be amazed about the amount of equipment William So has on offer for you.
Take a look at their food menu as well; not only is it well priced, it offers something for each moment of the day be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a little snack. In short: great coffee, great staff, great menu and lots of coffee equipment! A well deserved number 1 spot in Hong Kong.
Adress: G/F, 97 Jervois St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.
Opens:
Mon-Fri 0800-1800
Sat-Mon 1000-1800
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Amber Coffee Brewery
Located alongside the busy Des Voeux Road in Hong Kong Central, you will find Amber Coffee Brewery. Amber is home to award-winning Barista Dawn Chan (two time Hong Kong champion and 4th place in the world championships) and offers not only great coffee but excellent wines as well. You read it correct: wine. During the day this shop is packed with people who crave a cup of quality coffee. During the evening, however, this shop transforms into a wine bar that is offering excellent wines for those that are looking for an elegant way to start the evening.
Dawn Chan is often found in Amber to create beautiful Latte Art but do not think that the rest of his team, Jacky and Noddy, aren’t able to produce some fine art as well. The interior is chique, the equipment expensive, the team is great and their motto is beautiful: To make specialty coffee easy for everyone to understand, access, experience and to enjoy!
Adress:
Des Voeux Rd Central, 140-142G/F No.142 Full View Building, Central, Hong Kong.
Opens:
Mon-Fri: 0800-2130
Sat-Sun: 0900-1800
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Black Sugar Coffee
For black Sugar Coffee you will have to take a trip to Kowloon, the ‘other side’ of this majestic city. Black Sugar Coffee entered this list after I visited the place with a friend who pointed this out to me. Located near the Tsim Tsa Shui station it is easily reachable by foot and has a lot of shops and restaurants in the area. The reason why this shop is on the top list is because of the coffee they offer. Black Sugar Coffee offers famous brands like Gardelli and Topeca Coffee Roasters. The Baristas know how to brew their coffee and since the brands are so famous, you don’t have to worry about the quality of it. Ask about the several brewing methods they offer and which one will suit your choice of coffee best.
Adress:
Shop G34, Empire Centre, 68 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong
Opens:
Mon-Fri: 0800-1800
Sat-Sun: 1000-1800
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Brew Bros
Brew Bros is yet another hole-in-the-wall coffee shop that you will find in Hong Kong. But do not let the appearance deceive you; this shop has a lot to offer when it comes to coffee. The interior is simple, the ambiance is that of a place that attracts mostly regulars but the coffee on offer is simply great. The Baristas know everything about the coffees on sale and do not be surprised when you come across gems like a Bolivian coffee that brings tastes like that of butterscotch and jasmine. The coffee is roasted by Melbourne’s Market Lane Coffee and is also for sale in the shop. My tip is to try their signature 21-hour cold brew to cool off in the blistering heat of Hong Kong.
Adress:
33 Hillier St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.
Opens:
Mon-Sun: 0800-1700
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Brew Note Coffee Roasters
Brew Note Coffee Roasters is located in North Point Hong Kong which is a little further up the road from Causeway Bay. Brew Note is a shop that all the coffee lovers in Hong Kong know about and visit often. Owner Vincent is a fantastic roaster and offer his clientele a beautiful selection of fine washed and natural filter coffees. The place looks welcoming and the interior is nice with plenty of seating for the size of the shop. The Baristas really know what they are doing but will toss the brew away if it is not to their liking. That is something I admire in a coffee shop and shows that quality comes before the sale. What else is there to say about Brew Note Coffee roasters? Just visit this place and be amazed by the coffee they will serve you.
Adress:
19 Fort St, North Point, Hong Kong.
Opens:
Mon-Thu: 0830-1800
Fri-Sun: 0830-2130
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Coco Espresso
Coco Espresso is just around the corner from Barista Jam and is very much worth the effort of visiting. The first thing that you notice is that awesome Kees van der Westen machine that stands proudly in the windowsill. The second is that this place is quite modern en packed with people…anytime! And then you start drinking the coffee: delicious! Coco Espresso is one of those places that you could walk by easily, but should visit each time you pass by. I suggest trying their Nitro cold brew coffee: dark chocolate, sweet and fruity…just take it easy because the caffeine will get hit you hard!
Adress:
19 Jervois St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Opens:
Mon-Fri: 0800-1730
Sat-Sun: 1000-1730
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Espresso Alchemy
Here is another great coffee shop that is located out of the way in Hong Kong. Espresso Alchemy is a hidden gem that is located in Quarry Bay and not many people know about this shop unless you live nearby. It was here that I had a perfect brew of a Guatemala coffee; it was perfect in every way possible and really caught me by surprise. Unnecessary when you find out that the Barista is Henry Mok (1st runner-up Coffee Olympics 2013, 1st runner-up Coffee Power 2014 and 2017 Champion Mixed Barista Arts).
The place is small and narrow but has some beautiful art on the walls. The rest of the team are super friendly and crafty as well. It is a little out of the way, but please visit this place and treat yourself on a perfect brew of coffee!
Adress:
Hoi Wan St, 4-6 Shop 8, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong.
Opens:
Mon-Fri: 0730-1800
Sat-Sun: 0830-1800
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Elephant Grounds
Elephant Grounds is a well known coffee chain in Hong Kong. Normally I am not a fan of coffee chains because the level of quality is hard to maintain in each and every shop. Elephant Grounds is one of those chains that have no trouble in maintaining that quality. Located in several locations throughout Hon Kong, Elephant Grounds offers shops with amazing interiors, great food menus and terrific coffees. I suggest grabbing one of their latte based drinks; the coffee and froth complement each other perfectly and the latte art is like a painting!
Adress:
-Shop C, G/F, 42-28 Fashion Walk, Paterson St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
-8 Wing Fung St, Wan Chai, Hongkong
-11 Gough St., C/O. WOAW! Store, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
-61 Caine Rd., Mid-Levels, Central, Hong Kong
Opens:
Mon-Fri: 0800-2000
Sat-Sun: 0900-2000
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: Hazel and Hershey Coffee Roasters.
Hazel And Hersey is a one of a kind shop in Hong Kong. Owner Birdy Chiu has a unique view on how a coffee shop should present itself towards it’s costumers. In Hazel and Hersey you will not find brewing methods such as the Aeropress, Kalita or Chemex, you will only find the clever dripper. The reason is that Birdy feels that a Barista should communicate with the customers, talk about their shared passion for coffee and trade information. It should not be about how gimmicky a Barista can be with the myriad of brewing methods. To make this possible, Birdy Chiu has developed a roast that is suitable for brewing at 98 degrees Celsius. Together with his personal clever dripper recipe (which looks super simple), a Barista can brew his coffee and talk with his customers at the same time.
Aside from this special approach, Hazel and Hersey also offer a lot of coffee equipment which you can buy. All of the equipment is of the best brands, so if you’re looking for a knock-off you will not find it here.
I normally suggest a specific coffee but in this instance I suggest you just sit down and talk with the staff.
Adress:
Shop 3, 69 Peel, Central, Hong Kong
Opens:
Mon-Sun: 0900-1800
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: The Coffee Academics Flagship
The Coffee Academics might not be your hardcore coffee shop that you are used to seeing on this website. It is, however, a coffee shop that offers a whole package. Beautiful coffees (Yirgacheffe Kochere, Blue Mountain) and a finger licking food menu in a modern, trendy and hip setting. The place is always crowded and waiting time could be a tad longer than in your average coffee shop, but it is worth waiting for. The brews are good, the food is Instagram worthy and the interior is perfect. Try their Yirgacheffe served in a wineglass with an Avocado Toast.
Adress:
Bigfoot Centre, G/F, 38 Yiu Wa St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Opens:
Mon-Thu: 0900-2300
Fri-Sat: 0900-0200
Sun: 1000-2100
Best coffee shops in Hong Kong: The Cupping Room (Roastery)
Low on the list because of it’s ranking in the alphabet, The Cupping Room actually belongs just below Barista Jam. The Cupping Room has multiple locations throughout Hong Kong and offer the same level of quality when it comes to service and brewing. Kapo Chiu, who is a multiple award winning Barista in Hong Kong ( four time Hong Kong Champion, Runner-up WBC 2014 and Third place WBC 2017), is the owner and roaster of The Cupping Room. This shop and its coffees stand for high quality coffee and roasts, and you will taste that over and over again. My favourite shop is the roastery in Sheung Wang, the place is a little quieter than the ones on Central and Wan Chai. This gives you ample opportunity to chat with the Baristas. You might bump into Benny Wong, an award winning Barista that specializes in brewing filter coffee. His brews are amazing!
I can continue writing about The Cupping Room, but the fact remains that it is just too good not to visit. My tip is to try the Gesha Village coffee when you are there!